Ranji Trophy: Ajinkya Rahane Credits J&K Pacers

Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane credited Jammu and Kashmir pacers for a brilliant bowling performance to set up a five-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai at MCA’s Bandra Kurla Complex on Saturday. Jammu and Kashmir defeated 42-time Ranji champions Mumbai by five wickets to top the table Ranji Trophy Group A Elite with 29 points.

“Credit to Jammu and Kashmir pacers. They bowled tightly in a channel to test us. They showed character by pitching in right areas consistently and bowled around 8-9 overs in one spell, which showed their fitness. They also got some help from the wicket. They challenged us and we were not up to mark as a unit,” he said after the match on Saturday.

The pace trio of Yudhvir Singh, Auqib Nabi and Umar Nazir took 19 wickets to rattle star studded Mumbai batting.

“Their bowling unit has been doing well (throughout the season). Here also they exploited the conditions very well. We didn't expect it will seam that much, we thought it was dry wicket and will be good for batters and may spin from day 3. We didn’t take anyone lightly. There is no big team. All the teams want to do well for the state,” he added.

The former India skipper also praised J&K batters for a good chase. “We thought 205 was enough considering the situation we came from, we were effectively 15/7 and getting 200 plus lead was great.

They batted well, we tried our best but credit to them.

Mumbai are on the verge of exit with 22 points after six games. But they still have a low percentage chance to qualify as they meet Meghalaya at home and await the result of the currently ongoing Baroda versus Maharashtra game followed by the Baroda versus J&K game.

“We made five changes, Rohit (Sharma) and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal joined the Mumbai team after a long time and guys are coming here after playing white-ball cricket (Mushtaq Ali T20 and Vijay Hazare).

I am not worried about the result. Shardul (Thakur) and Tanush (Kotian) batting and Mohit (Avasthi) five-wicket haul are few positives. Shams had been fantastic all season bowling well for us. It is a learning curve for us. We have 1 percent chance to qualify, we never know. One game to go, we believed anything can happen.